Top cop commits to safety

By PETER WARI
POLICE will work with all 2022 general election candidates in Southern Highlands to deliver a safe and peaceful election, commander Chief Superintendent Daniel Yangen says.
“We all need to cooperate with Electoral Commission officials and supporters of candidates to achieve a conducive environment for all to vote,” he added.
He said most of the election-related violence in the country were instigated by supporters and Southern Highlanders must change their mindset.
“Let us all have a free, fair and safe election,” he said, adding that the 2017 violence must not recur.
Yangen said many people sold their votes during general elections and they start complaining when those elected fail to deliver their promises.
“They have only themselves to blame (for electing them),” he added.
Former Mendi-Munihu MP De Kewanu, who is contesting on a People National Congress Party ticket, said people now wanted violent-free elections to elect good and reliable leaders.
“After five years, they are free to judge their performance and make a choice when they cast their ballots (from July 2 to 22),”Kewanu said.

Locals contribute pigs, money to support candidate

PEOPLE from more than 20 wards in the Lai-Valley local level government (LLG) area of Mendi-Munihu, Southern Highlands, contributed pigs and money to support United Labour Party (ULP) candidate Raphael Tonpi launch his election campaign.
Tonpi, a primary school teacher, resigned sometimes ago, hoping to lead his people to bring development changes in the remote Kip village that has elementary schools, Kip Primary, Lai-Valley High, Kip Health Centre and Kip United Church Circuit.
He said his reasons for contesting the seat was due to negligence by elected leaders to bring services to his people in the LLG and others, and also resources were not distributed evenly.
“My people have been forgotten and they faced challenges accessing basic government services,” he said.
“The area is fertile and people have numerous coffee blocks, they grow varieties of vegetables but transporting them to the market has always been a nightmare because of the poor road condition.
“The feeder road was constructed by the people themselves and they continuously involve in community service to improve the road, schools, the health facility and the mission area,” he said.
He said the coming together of all the wards in the LLG showed the frustration they had for services and this time they want a good leader who will represent them and be with them during turbulent times.
United Labour Party leader Lekwa Gure, who was present for Tonpi’s endorsement on Saturday at Kip village, said the presentation of pigs and money to support Tonpi for his election campaign meant a lot.
Gure was accompanied by Markham MP and Deputy Speaker Koni Iguan and the late Sam Basil’s son Sam Basil Junior.

Candidate numbers drop in Oro

NORTHERN (Oro) has recorded fewer candidates contesting the 2022 general election which is an indication that people are better informed about politics, provincial election manager Daisy Hombogani says.
Hombogani told The National that even with the new Popondetta open seat recently created, there was a reduced number of candidates compared to the 2017 election.
She was the assistant election manager in the last election during which Northern saw a higher number of candidates contest.
Hombogani said even with the addition of the new Popondetta open seat, the numbers were still lower than in 2012.
“Our people are better educated now than they were and we have seen a decrease in the candidates contesting the election this year,” she said.

Police commander urges people to behave

ACTING Assistant Commissioner of Police for Highlands Western End says candidates and their supporters behaved well during the nomination and that needs to continue into polling time.
“I want to commend the candidates in Hela, Enga and South Highlands for maintaining peace and respect for one another during the nomination and this attitude should remain until the return of writs,” said Assistant Commissioner Rigga Neggi.
He said there were no reports of deaths in the three provinces under his command and peace should be maintained.
“This shows that security personnel have been working hard to ensure that there were no violence and trouble,” he said. Neggi said police were on alert since the nomination but there were less trouble than expected.
“This is a positive indication that the public were behaving well and they must maintain that until the election is over,” he said.
He said despite the fact that the provinces under Western End command had the history in high rates of violence during election, the nomination period was good.
“The public and the supporters of candidates should be in their best behaviour so that they will be no violence and death,” he said.
He said security personnel in Hela, Enga and South Highlands had been working to ensure the highways were safe.